Laminate AC3 vs AC4: What the Rating Actually Changes

AC ratings come from EN 13329 and describe how a laminate surface resists abrasion, impact and staining. Importers often ask for AC4 without knowing what changes between AC3 and AC4, and whether the difference matters for their market.

What the rating measures

The AC rating is a wear resistance class derived from Taber abrasion and related tests. AC3 is the minimum for residential use in most of Europe; AC4 is the common commercial class; AC5 is heavy commercial. The rating is not a thickness, a warranty or a water resistance claim.

The practical difference

	AC3	AC4
Typical use	Residential rooms	Offices, retail, light commercial
Traffic	Domestic footfall	Higher, concentrated traffic
Surface	Standard overlay	Denser overlay, better abrasion resistance
Price	Lower	Higher

Where importers get it wrong

Putting AC4 into a bedroom programme raises the price without a visible benefit. Putting AC3 into a shop entrance is a claim waiting to happen. Match the class to the room and the traffic, not to the spec sheet of a different project.

Thickness is not class

An 8 mm AC3 board and a 12 mm AC3 board have the same surface class. Thickness affects acoustics, feel and joint stability, not abrasion resistance. That is why a 12 mm product is not automatically a commercial product.

What to confirm

• AC class and the test report behind it;
• Thickness and core (HDF density);
• Wax seal or edge treatment for wet areas;
• MOQ per decor and packing;
• Whether the project requires a use class as well.

For a project that requires both, put the AC rating and the use class in the purchase order, together with the approved sample reference.